Protect Your Home. Protect Your Equity. Plan Your Next Chapter.
Whether you want to keep your current home, buy out your spouse, or use your divorce settlement to purchase a new home, the decisions you make today can shape your financial future.
With 33 years of mortgage industry experience, Laura C. Dantuma helps women understand their mortgage options during divorce and prepare for their next chapter.
33 Years of Mortgage Experience
Personalized Mortgage Guidance | Proactive Divorce Planning
The most important time to start planning?
Before your divorce settlement is finalized.
FOR A COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION
Before You Finalize Your Divorce Settlement, Let's Talk About Your Mortgage.
Your divorce settlement may determine who receives the house, how your home equity is divided, and what financial resources you’ll have moving forward.
But there’s something many women don’t realize: a settlement that looks good on paper may not work the way you expect when it comes to mortgage financing.
You may be awarded the marital home but discover that you cannot qualify to refinance it on your own. You may receive settlement proceeds intended for a new home but need to consider how your income, existing debts, and available funds affect your mortgage qualification.
That's why mortgage planning should begin before you sign your divorce agreement—not after.
With guidance from Laura C. Dantuma, you can explore your financing options, identify potential obstacles, and discuss relevant mortgage requirements with your divorce attorney before important decisions become final.
What We'll Help You Evaluate
- Whether you may qualify for a mortgage independently.
- How your income, alimony, and child support may affect qualification.
- Whether refinancing or buying out your spouse is feasible.
- How divorce settlement proceeds may help fund a new home.
- How joint debts and existing mortgage obligations affect your borrowing capacity.
- What mortgage requirements may need to be considered during settlement negotiations.
Your Divorce. Your Home. Your Financial Future.
Every divorce is different. Your mortgage strategy should reflect your goals, financial circumstances, and plans for the future.
Want to stay in the marital home? Explore refinancing, spousal buyout financing, and potential mortgage assumption options to understand whether keeping the property is financially achievable.
Ready for a fresh start? Learn how eligible divorce settlement funds, home sale proceeds, and other assets may help you purchase a new home after divorce.
Still negotiating your divorce agreement? Understand how income, property division, debt, and settlement timing may affect your future mortgage before the agreement is finalized.
FOR A COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION
Before You Sign Your Divorce Settlement, Read This.
7 Important Things to Understand About Your Home, Your Equity & Your Next Mortgage
Learn what to consider before you decide to:
- Keep your current home
- Buy out your spouse
- Buy a new home using settlement funds
- Prepare for mortgage qualification
Your Settlement Could Help You Open the Door to a New Home.
Keeping the marital home isn’t the right choice for everyone. Sometimes, a fresh start in a new property makes more financial and personal sense.
If you’re expecting to receive money through your divorce settlement, those funds may help you purchase a new home.
Depending on the circumstances, eligible funds may include:
- Cash awarded through your divorce settlement.
- Proceeds from selling the marital home.
- Cash received through a spousal equity buyout.
- Investment or other assets distributed through the settlement.
These funds may potentially be used toward a down payment, closing costs, and reserves, subject to the applicable mortgage program’s requirements.
However, having money for a down payment doesn’t automatically mean you’ll qualify for a mortgage. Lenders also evaluate qualifying income, credit, debts, and the source and documentation of your funds.
Imagine you’re expecting to receive $250,000 through your divorce settlement and want to purchase a $650,000 home.
| Purchase Details | Illustrative Amount |
|---|---|
| New home purchase price | $650,000 |
| Down payment | $150,000 |
| Proposed mortgage amount | $500,000 |
| Remaining settlement funds before other costs | $100,000 |
Your remaining funds could potentially help cover closing costs, provide financial reserves, or support other goals.
Your actual purchasing power will depend on your mortgage qualification, interest rate, property expenses, available funds, and applicable underwriting requirements.
Plan Your Purchase Before Your Settlement Is Finalized.
Understanding your potential mortgage qualification early can help you and your attorney consider how the timing and structure of your settlement may affect your homebuying plans.
Can You Keep Your House After Divorce?
For many women, the marital home represents stability, security, and years of financial investment.
You may want to remain in the home for your children, preserve the equity you’ve built, or maintain a familiar environment while beginning a new chapter.
Keeping the house may be possible, but it’s important to understand the financing involved.
Refinancing may allow you to replace your existing mortgage with a new loan in your name, subject to lender approval and applicable requirements.
If your spouse is entitled to a share of the home’s equity, you may need financing to pay that amount as part of your settlement.
Some existing mortgages may allow an assumption. Eligibility depends on the loan terms, servicer requirements, and whether a release of liability can be obtained.
Beyond qualifying for the mortgage, consider property taxes, insurance, maintenance, utilities, and other costs of homeownership on a single income.
The goal isn’t simply to keep your house. It’s to understand whether keeping it supports your financial future.
Can You Qualify for a Mortgage Using Alimony or Child Support?
After divorce, support payments may become an important part of your financial picture.
Depending on the mortgage program, alimony and child support may be considered qualifying income. However, receiving these payments doesn’t automatically mean a lender can count them toward your mortgage qualification.
Lenders may evaluate:
- The amount and frequency of payments.
- Documented payment history, where required.
- The expected continuance of support.
- Your divorce decree or separation agreement.
- Other income, debts, and applicable underwriting requirements.
Why Discuss This Before Your Divorce Is Final?
The structure, timing, and documentation of support payments can affect your ability to qualify for a mortgage.
A mortgage review before your settlement is finalized can help identify requirements that you and your attorney may need to consider.
Your settlement should reflect a clear understanding of both your financial needs and your potential mortgage options.
Self-Employed and Going Through Divorce? Your Mortgage Strategy Matters.
If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, or independent professional, qualifying for a mortgage after divorce may require additional planning.
Your business may generate substantial revenue, but business deductions, taxable income, distributions, and fluctuating earnings can affect how a lender evaluates your ability to repay a mortgage.
Depending on your financial circumstances and program eligibility, potential options may include:
- Traditional income documentation.
- Bank statement mortgage programs.
- Eligible asset-based qualification options.
- Other mortgage programs suited to your financial profile.
The right approach depends on your documented finances, credit, liabilities, available assets, and lender requirements.
Your mortgage strategy should account for your financial circumstances—not just the fact that you’re going through a divorce.
Five Financial Decisions to Consider Before Signing Your Divorce Agreement
A divorce agreement may award you the property, but refinancing or assuming the mortgage requires meeting the applicable lender and loan requirements.
Your home’s equity may look sufficient on paper, but the available financing may not cover the required payment to your spouse.
Alimony and child support may be eligible income, but documentation and continuance requirements can affect whether a lender can use them.
A large down payment may reduce your mortgage balance, but you’ll also need to consider closing costs, reserves, and your financial needs after divorce.
By that point, changing settlement terms may be more complicated and could require additional legal work or approval.
A proactive mortgage review can help you identify potential challenges before your settlement is finalized.
33 Years of Mortgage Experience.
Laura C. Dantuma
Divorce can bring complex financial decisions, especially when your home, equity, income, and future housing plans are involved.
33 Years of Expertise. Helping Women Protect Their Homes, Their Equity & Their Next Chapter.
Laura C. Dantuma helps women explore financing options and understand the mortgage considerations that may affect their divorce settlement.
Whether you’re planning to keep your current home, buy out your spouse, or purchase a new property, the goal is to help you approach the process with greater clarity and confidence.
Laura encourages women to start the mortgage conversation early, while there may still be time to discuss financing considerations with their divorce attorney before the settlement is finalized.
Start with a conversation. Understand your options. Plan your next move.
A Clearer Path to Your Next Home
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STEP 1
Waiting Until the Divorce Is Final to Explore Your Options
Discuss your goals, current housing situation, and where you are in the divorce process.
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STEP 2
Review Your Financial Picture
Explore relevant information about your income, assets, liabilities, mortgage, and anticipated settlement.
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STEP 3
Evaluate Potential Mortgage Options
Discuss possible financing approaches and the requirements that may affect your qualification.
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STEP 4
Coordinate With Your Attorney
With your authorization, relevant mortgage requirements can be communicated to your divorce attorney for consideration during settlement planning.
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STEP 5
Prepare for Your Next Chapter
Use the information gathered to make more informed decisions about keeping your home, completing a buyout, or purchasing another property.
A proactive mortgage review can help you identify potential challenges before your settlement is finalized.
Divorce Mortgage Planning: What You Need to Know
Can I buy a house with money from my divorce settlement?
Potentially. Eligible and properly documented settlement funds may be used toward a down payment, closing costs, and reserves. You must also meet the applicable mortgage qualification requirements.
Should I speak with a mortgage advisor before my divorce settlement is finalized?
Potentially. Eligible and properly documented settlement funds may be used toward a down payment, closing costs, and reserves. You must also meet the applicable mortgage qualification requirements.
Can I keep my house if my husband and I divorce?
Potentially. Eligible and properly documented settlement funds may be used toward a down payment, closing costs, and reserves. You must also meet the applicable mortgage qualification requirements.
Can I buy out my spouse's share of our house?
Potentially. Eligible and properly documented settlement funds may be used toward a down payment, closing costs, and reserves. You must also meet the applicable mortgage qualification requirements.
Can I get a mortgage while my divorce is still in progress?
Potentially. Eligible and properly documented settlement funds may be used toward a down payment, closing costs, and reserves. You must also meet the applicable mortgage qualification requirements.
Can I qualify for a mortgage using alimony or child support?
Potentially. Eligible and properly documented settlement funds may be used toward a down payment, closing costs, and reserves. You must also meet the applicable mortgage qualification requirements.
Does my divorce decree remove my name from the mortgage?
Potentially. Eligible and properly documented settlement funds may be used toward a down payment, closing costs, and reserves. You must also meet the applicable mortgage qualification requirements.
Is the initial divorce mortgage consultation free?
Potentially. Eligible and properly documented settlement funds may be used toward a down payment, closing costs, and reserves. You must also meet the applicable mortgage qualification requirements.
Before You Sign Your Divorce Settlement, Understand Your Mortgage Options.
You may want to keep the home you’ve built your life in. You may be ready to purchase a new home with your settlement proceeds. Or you may still be deciding what makes the most financial sense.
Whatever your goals, understanding your mortgage options before your divorce settlement is finalized can help you plan with greater confidence.
With 33 years of mortgage industry experience, Laura C. Dantuma is here to help you explore the possibilities.
Your Next Chapter Deserves a Plan.
Schedule your free, confidential divorce mortgage consultation today.
Complimentary. No obligation. Mortgage financing is subject to underwriting, credit approval, and program availability.
